Flat heat pipe with hook capillary tissue

ABSTRACT

A flat heat pipe with hook capillary tissue includes a metal pipe, a capillary tissue and working fluid. The metal pipe is in a flat shape and formed by enclosing two opposite panels and two opposite sidewalls, and a hollow chamber is formed in the metal pipe. The capillary tissue is in the shape of a long strip, and includes having a hook formed at an end of the capillary tissue, and the capillary tissue is contained in the hollow chamber and attached onto one of the sidewalls and abutted between two sidewalls, and a working fluid is filled into the hollow chamber and adhered to the capillary tissue, so that the stability of fixing the capillary tissue into the metal pipe can be improved, and the retention quantity of the working fluid at an end of the pipe can be maintained.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a heat pipe, and more particularly to aflat heat pipe with a hook capillary tissue.

2. Description of Prior Art

As a central processing unit (CPU) of a computer comes with anincreasingly higher speed, and electronic products tends to have alight, thin, short and compact design, a conventional heat dissipationdevice composed of an aluminum extrusion heat sink and a fan can nolonger meet the user requirements anymore, and thus manufacturers keepdeveloping new heat pipes with a higher thermal conduction efficiencyand combining heat pipes with the heat sink to overcome present existingheat dissipation problems. However, the structural design of theinterior of the heat pipe relates to flows of gas and liquid in the heatpipe and an available using space, and thus the inventor of the presentinvention focused on the aforementioned problem to design and develop aheat pipe to overcome the problem.

A conventional heat pipe as disclosed in R.O.C. Pat. No. M366036comprises a flat pipe, formed by two opposite bottom walls and twoopposite sidewalls, and a one-way mesh capillary tissue sintered intoone of the bottom walls. Although such heat pipe can perform agas-liquid phase change with the heat produced by a heat source, yet theamount of capillary tissue installed onto a surface at the bottom wallof the pipe is reduced significantly due to the small gas passage in thepipe with an increasingly smaller size, and the internal surface of thecapillary tissue is a rough surface which further constitutes anobstacle for the flow of the internal gas, and results in a poorefficiency of the thermal conduction of the heat pipe.

Related manufacturers also designed another type of heat pipe asdisclosed in R.O.C. Pat. No. I263765, and the heat pipe comprises acasing, and the casing includes an evaporation section, a condensationsection and a cavity, and a capillary tissue made of a metal foam isinstalled in the cavity, and the capillary tissue is extended from theevaporation section to the condensation section, and the capillarytissue has a hole diameter that increases from the condensation sectionto the evaporation section. However, the capillary tissue is clampedbetween upper and lower internal walls of the casing, and has a smalleffective contact area with the internal wall, so that the capillarytissue and the casing may be shifted and deviated with respect to eachother during a transportation process. Furthermore, the capillary tissueis installed in the axial direction of the casing, and the capillarytissue at the evaporation section is restricted, and thus the supply ofthe working fluid is often insufficient and the conventional heat piperequires further improvements.

In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the inventor of thepresent invention based on years of experience in the related field toconduct extensive researches and experiments, and finally developed aheat pipe in accordance with the present invention to overcome theshortcomings of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is a primary objective of the present invention to providea flat heat pipe with a hook capillary tissue, wherein a hook isprovided for abutting the interior of the metal pipe to improve thestability of fixing the capillary tissue into the metal pipe.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the present invention provides aflat heat pipe with a hook capillary tissue, comprising a metal pipe, acapillary tissue and a working fluid, wherein the metal pipe is in aflat shape, and the metal pipe is formed by enclosing two oppositepanels and two sidewalls extended from the two panels respectively, anda hollow chamber is formed in the metal pipe, and the capillary tissueis in a shape of a long strip and includes a hook formed at an end ofthe capillary tissue, and the capillary tissue is contained in thehollow chamber and attached onto one of the sidewalls, and the hook isabutted between the two sidewalls, and the working fluid is filled intothe hollow chamber and adhered onto the capillary tissue.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the present invention providesanother flat heat pipe with hook capillary tissue, comprising a metalpipe, a capillary tissue and a working fluid, wherein the metal pipe isin a flat shape, and the metal pipe is formed by enclosing two oppositepanels and two sidewalls extended from the two panels respectively, anda hollow chamber is formed in the metal pipe, and the capillary tissueis contained in the hollow chamber, and the capillary tissue includes alinear section and a hook formed by bending an end of the linearsection, and the linear section is attached onto one of the sidewalls,and the hook is abutted between the two sidewalls, and the working fluidis filled into the hollow chamber and adhered onto the capillary tissue.

The present invention has the effect of storing sufficient working fluidat the evaporation section of the heat pipe by means of the hook havingthe capillary tissue at the evaporation section, and overcomes theproblem of having insufficient working fluid effectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a heat pipe of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a heat pipe of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a heat pipe of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a heat pipe of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an application of a heat generating devicehaving a heat pipe combined with fins in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a heat pipe of anotherpreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of another way of combining a metal pipe anda capillary tissue in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a metal pipe and acapillary tissue in accordance with another preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The technical characteristics, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent in the following detailed description ofthe preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.The drawings are provided for reference and illustration only, but notintended for limiting the present invention.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 for a flat heat pipe with hook capillarytissue in accordance with the present invention, the heat pipe 1comprises a metal pipe 10, a capillary tissue 20 and a working fluid 30.

The metal pipe 10 is made of a material having a high thermalconductivity such as copper, and manufactured into a flat shape, and theflat shape metal pipe 10 is formed by enclosing an upper panel 11, alower panel 12, a left sidewall 13 and a right sidewall 14, and a hollowchamber 15 is formed in the metal pipe 10, and both left and rightsidewall 13, 14 are in a semicircular shape. In addition, an end of themetal pipe 10 is soldered and sealed to form a rear closed end 16, andanother end of the metal pipe 10 is a front closed end 17 available tobe sealed (as shown in FIG. 2), and an internal arc wall 161 is formedinside the rear closed end 16.

The capillary tissue 20 is a circular woven metal mesh in a form of along strip, a fiber cluster or a porous powder sintered strip, whereinthe capillary tissue 20 of the preferred embodiment is a woven metalmesh comprising a linear section 21, a first hook 22 integrally formedby bending an end of the linear section 21, and a second hook 23 formedby bending another end of the linear section 21, and the first hook 22comprises a first arc section 221 extended from an end of the linearsection 21 and a first press section 222 extended from an end of thefirst arc section 221 and parallel to the linear section 21, and thesecond hook 23 of this preferred embodiment includes a second arcsection 231 extended from another end of the linear section 21.

During assembly, the capillary tissue 20 is put into the hollow chamber15, and its linear section 21 is attached and contacted with the rightsidewall 14, wherein the first arc section 221 of the first hook 22 isdisposed immediately adjacent to the internal arc wall 161 of the rearclosed end 16, and the first press section 222 of the first hook 22 isattached and contacted partially with a rear section of the leftsidewall 13, and the first hook 22 is abutted between the left and rightsidewalls 13, 14. In the meantime, the linear section 21, the first hook22 and the second hook 23 are also clamped and fixed by the upper andlower panels 11, 12. The front closed end 17 requiring to be sealed istapered, and the second arc section 231 of the second hook 23 and aninternal arc wall (whose numeral is not shown in the figure) of thefront closed end 17 are attached with a gas exhaust/filling opening (notshown in the figure); and then a working fluid 30 such as water isfilled into the hollow chamber 15 through the gas exhaust/fillingopening and adhered onto the capillary tissue 20. Finally, a heatingprocess and a gas exhaustion process are applied to the metal pipe 10,and then the gas exhaust/filling opening is soldered and sealed tocomplete the manufacture of the heat pipe 1 of the present invention.

The manufactured heat pipe 1 includes an evaporation section 100, athermal insulation section 101 and a condensation section 102sequentially along the lengthwise direction of the heat pipe 1, and thefirst hook 22 is formed inside the evaporation section 100, and thesecond hook 23 is formed inside the condensation section 102, and thelinear section 21 is disposed immediately adjacent to the right sidewall14 and interconnected with internal spaces of the evaporation section100, the thermal insulation section 101 and the condensation section102.

With reference to FIG. 5, the plurality of fins 5 are sheathed onto thecondensation section 102 of the heat pipe 1, and the evaporation section100 is attached directly onto an electronic heat generating device 6,wherein a large quantity of heat is produced after the operation of thegenerating device 6 takes place and conducted directly to the lowerpanel 12 of the heat pipe 1, and then from the lower panel 12 to thefirst hook 22 of the capillary tissue 20, so that the working fluid 30adhered to an interior of the first hook 22 is vaporized, and thevaporized fluid flows from the interior of the evaporation section 100through the thermal insulation section 101 to the condensation section102 quickly, and the condensation section 102 is provided for exchangingheat between each fin 5 and air to condense the fluid in thecondensation section 102 into a liquid, and the liquid is returned to aposition of the first hook 22 from the second hook 23 through the linearsection 21 by capillary action forces of the capillary tissue 20, so asto constitute a continuous circulation of a heat dissipation mechanismof the heat pipe 1.

With reference to FIG. 6 for a capillary tissue 20 of a heat pipe inaccordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention,the second hook 23 can be comprised of a second arc section 231 and asecond press section 232, wherein the second arc section 231 is attachedwith an internal arc wall of the front closed end 17, and the secondpress section 232 is attached and contacted with a front section of theleft sidewall 13, and the second hook 23 is abutted between the left andright sidewalls 13, 14, such that the backflow of the working fluid 30in a liquid form in the capillary tissue 20 can be expedited.

With reference to FIG. 7, the heat pipe 1 of the present invention canbe assembled by the metal pipe 10 and the capillary tissue 20 inaccordance with the foregoing preferred embodiment as well as puttingthe capillary tissue 20 into the circular metal pipe 10, and pressingthe metal pipe 10 by a planarization process, such that the upper andlower panels 11, 12 can be clamped onto upper and lower surfaces of theflat heat pipe 1 in accordance with this preferred embodiment, so as toenhance the stability of the connection.

With reference to FIG. 8, the capillary tissue 20 of the heat pipe 1 ofthe present invention can be manufactured in accordance with theforegoing preferred embodiments, as well as this preferred embodiment,wherein the capillary tissue 20 is comprised of a linear section 21 anda first hook 22 connected to an end of the linear section 21, and thelinear section 21 can be made of a woven metal mesh, and the first hook22 is U-shaped and made of a porous powder sintered strip, and thelinear section 21 is disposed immediately adjacent to an internalsurface of the right sidewall 14, and the first hook 22 is attached ontointernal surfaces of a rear section of the right sidewall 14, aninternal arc wall 161 of the rear closed end 16 and a rear section ofthe left sidewall 13. Similarly, the linear section 21 can be a porouspowder sintered strip or a fiber cluster (not shown in the figure), andthe first hook 22 can be a woven metal mesh or a fiber cluster (notshown in the figure) to provide equivalent effects as the aforementionedpreferred embodiments.

In summation of the description above, the flat heat pipe with hookcapillary tissue of the present invention provides an innovative productcapable of achieving the expected functions, overcoming the shortcomingsof the prior art, and complying with the patent applicationrequirements, and thus the present invention is duly filed for patentapplication.

The present invention is illustrated with reference to the preferredembodiment and not intended to limit the patent scope of the presentinvention. Various substitutions and modifications have suggested in theforegoing description, and other will occur to those of ordinary skillin the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications areintended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined inthe appended claims.

1. A flat heat pipe with hook capillary tissue, comprising: a metalpipe, being in a flat shape, and formed by enclosing two opposite panelsand two sidewalls extended from the two panels respectively, and havinga hollow chamber formed in the metal pipe; a capillary tissue, being ina shape of a long strip, and having a hook formed at an end of thecapillary tissue, and the capillary tissue being contained in the hollowchamber and abutted against one of the sidewalls, and the hook beingabutted between the two sidewalls; and working fluid, filled into thehollow chamber and adhered onto the capillary tissue.
 2. The flat heatpipe with a hook capillary tissue of claim 1, wherein the capillarytissue is a woven metal mesh, a fiber cluster or a porous powdersintered strip.
 3. The flat heat pipe with a hook capillary tissue ofclaim 1, wherein the capillary tissue includes a woven metal mesh and aporous powder sintered strip coupled to the woven metal mesh.
 4. Theflat heat pipe with a hook capillary tissue of claim 1, wherein thecapillary tissue includes a fiber cluster and a porous powder sinteredstrip coupled to the fiber cluster.
 5. The flat heat pipe with a hookcapillary tissue of claim 1, wherein the capillary tissue includes afiber cluster and a woven metal mesh coupled to the fiber cluster. 6.The flat heat pipe with a hook capillary tissue of claim 1, wherein themetal pipe further includes a rear closed end coupled to the two panelsand the two sidewalls, and an internal arc wall is formed at the rearclosed end, and the hook includes a first arc section disposedimmediately adjacent to the internal arc wall and a first press sectionextended from the first arc section, and the first press section isdisposed adjacent to the other sidewall.
 7. The flat heat pipe with ahook capillary tissue of claim 6, wherein the metal pipe furtherincludes a front closed end coupled to the two panels and the twosidewalls, and the capillary tissue further includes a second hookdisposed immediately adjacent to an internal wall of the front closedend.
 8. The flat heat pipe with a hook capillary tissue of claim 7,wherein the second hook includes a second arc section disposedimmediately adjacent to an internal wall of the front closed end and asecond press section extended from the second arc section and disposedimmediately adjacent to the other sidewall.
 9. The flat heat pipe with ahook capillary tissue of claim 1, wherein both sidewalls are in asemicircular shape.
 10. The flat heat pipe with a hook capillary tissueof claim 1, wherein the heat pipe includes an evaporation section, andthe hook is formed at an internal space of the evaporation section. 11.A flat heat pipe with hook capillary tissue, comprising: a metal pipe,being in a flat shape, and formed by enclosing two opposite panels andtwo sidewalls extended from the two panels respectively, and having ahollow chamber formed in the metal pipe; a capillary tissue, containedin the hollow chamber, and having a linear section and a hook formed bybending an end of the linear section, and abutted against one of thesidewalls corresponding to the linear section, and the hook beingabutted between the two sidewalls; and working fluid, filled into thehollow chamber and adhered onto the capillary tissue.
 12. The flat heatpipe with a hook capillary tissue of claim 11, wherein the capillarytissue is a woven metal mesh, a fiber cluster or a porous powdersintered strip.
 13. The flat heat pipe with a hook capillary tissue ofclaim 11, wherein the linear section is a woven metal mesh and the hookis a porous powder sintered strip.
 14. The flat heat pipe with a hookcapillary tissue of claim 11, wherein the linear section is a fibercluster and the hook is a porous powder sintered strip.
 15. The flatheat pipe with a hook capillary tissue of claim 11, wherein the linearsection is a fiber cluster and the hook is a woven metal mesh.
 16. Theflat heat pipe with a hook capillary tissue of claim 11, wherein themetal pipe further includes a rear closed end coupled to the two panelsand the two sidewalls, and an internal arc wall formed inside the rearclosed end, and the hook includes a first arc section extended from thelinear section and a first press section extended from the first arcsection and parallel to the linear section, and the first arc section isdisposed immediately adjacent to the internal arc wall, and the firstpress section is disposed immediately adjacent to the other sidewall.17. The flat heat pipe with a hook capillary tissue of claim 16, whereinthe metal pipe further includes a front closed end coupled to the twopanels and the two sidewalls, and the capillary tissue further includesa second hook extended from the linear section, and the second hook isdisposed immediately adjacent to an internal wall of the front closedend.
 18. The flat heat pipe with a hook capillary tissue of claim 17,wherein the second hook includes a second arc section extended from thelinear section, and a second press section extended from the second arcsection, and the second arc section is disposed immediately adjacent toan internal wall of the front closed end, and the second press sectionis disposed immediately adjacent to the other sidewall.
 19. The flatheat pipe with a hook capillary tissue of claim 11, wherein the twosidewalls are in a semicircular arc shape.
 20. The flat heat pipe with ahook capillary tissue of claim 11, wherein the heat pipe includes anevaporation section and the hook is formed in a space inside theevaporation section.